EU Enlargement Commissioner to visit Cyprus in February

Olli Rehn, the EU Enlargement Commissioner, will visit Cyprus next month, and most probably on the 12th or 13th of February, 2009, Cyprus Foreign Minister has announced.

Marcos Kyprianou said that he had a tet-a-tet meeting with Rehn, a few days ago, in the framework of the EU Council of Foreign Ministers in Brussels. During that meeting, Kyprianou noted, they discussed and exchanged views on issues regarding the Turkey’s EU accession route, and the EU regulation for financial support to the Turkish Cypriot community.

The Republic of Cyprus supports Turkey’s European course, with the condition that Turkey will fulfill all the criteria and meet its obligations towards the EU and the member states, including Cyprus, Kyprianou stressed.

Commenting on Turkish Prime Minister’s statements, that his country will block Nabucco project if progress is not made in Turkey’s accession talks with the EU, Kyprianou said that this position causes problems to the Turkey’s credibility as an EU partner which can provide natural gas to the EU.

Referring to the EU Council of Foreign Ministers, Kyprianou stated that the main issues that have been extensively discussed were the situation in Gaza, and the Energy issue.

As regards his recent tour to the Latin America, Kyprianou pointed out that all the countries he has visited seek to enhance the cooperation with Cyprus.

The Cyprus Foreign Minister has visited Venezuela, Panama, Argentina and Brazil, where he hold a series of meetings with his counterparts. During his meetings, Kyprianou discussed the Cyprus issue and the issues of bilateral financial and trade cooperation.